Microsphere-induced cerebral embolism leads to non-selective reductions of brain monoamines and cognitive deficits in rats

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 1993, Vol.61 (suppl.1), p.182-182
• Main Authors: Washizuka, Masataka, Miura, Naoyoshi, Ito, Shigeru, Izumi, Tunkichi, Hayashi, Yu, Hiraga, Yoshihiro, Ikeda, Yugo
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; jpn
• ISSN: 0021-5198
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-5198(19)51607-9

Experimental microsphere-induced embolism of the brain (MEB) has been used as a model for the cerebral ischemia. We investigated changes in monoamine concentrations, and in passive avoidance and Morris place navigation performance following the embolization produced by injecting microspheres into the left internal carotid artery of rats. MEB resulted in non-selective reductions of noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites in the left side of the brain. Relatively extensive damage was obtained especially in the hippocampus. There were not marked changes in the right side of the structures. Passive avoidance performance was impaired depending upon the number of microspheres injected. In the place navigation task, the MEB-rats showed slight impairments of the performance. These results indicate that MEB leads to non-selective neuronal damage and these changes might be responsible for the cognitive deficits observed in the MEB-rats.